Academic Mentoring: What Is It and How It Can Help
How Schools Fall Short
In spite of teachers’ best efforts, schools often fall short in supporting students. With anywhere up to thirty students in a class, it can be difficult for teachers to give any one student more attention, even when they need it most. Moreover, the vast quantity of homework, coursework, and exam papers that must be marked for each class means that students are often given minimal feedback on their work. Teachers would, no doubt, like to give more time to each student but, sometimes, it’s simply not possible. What all this results in is students who slip through the cracks. Young learners who are struggling are often, through no fault of their own, ignored and, ultimately, their academics suffer. This can also cause a blow to self confidence and self esteem.
An Historic Tradition of Mentoring
An historical tradition of academic mentoring exists, dating back many centuries. Famed philosopher Plato began as a student of Socrates, and it was one of Plato’s very own students, Aristotle, who went on to mentor a young Alexander of Macedonia, better known as Alexander the Great. The mentor-student relationship is, therefore, a central component of Western thought and world history. The influence of the academic mentor on the individual and society as a whole is truly immeasurable and has maintained over many thousands of years because of its ability to go beyond the cut-and-dried learning of traditional instruction.
The Role of an Academic Mentor
The role of an academic mentor goes far beyond that of the traditional teacher. A teacher is focused on the dissemination of key pieces of information among a large group of students to most efficiently cover the subject curriculum; an academic mentor works one-on-one with a student to nurture and develop not only their academic skills but also themselves as people. An experienced mentor acts as a multimodal educator. They assess a student’s strengths and weaknesses, formulate a bespoke learning plan, and cultivate a personal relationship built on mutual trust, respect and understanding. The role of a mentor is to educate and to inspire and unlock the potential of each and every one of their students, both academically and personally.
Academic Mentoring and Learning Differences
Students with learning differences often benefit most from the support of an academic mentor. Unfortunately, the traditional model of education within a school environment is not receptive or supportive of students with learning differences. Students with learning differences may need greater attention and support, which is not something that a classroom teacher can always provide. Moreover, it may be the case that these students are ostracised or unfairly punished and, consequently, develop a negative perception of education. However, an academic mentor, considering the one-to-one nature of the work, can offer students what they need in terms of attention and support. Not only that but academic mentors can develop lesson content that speaks to a student’s unique interests and, as a result, inspire them to learn and embrace education.
Working with a BartyED Academic Mentor
At BartyED, our team of expertly trained and experienced academic mentors work closely with students to spark a love of learning. Our academic mentors consider the strengths and weaknesses of each student and develop learning strategies and materials to best suit their unique educational profile. Each lesson is devised with the individual needs of the student in mind, such that they can progress in their learning, advance their unique academic abilities, and consolidate essential skills like exam technique and the ability to organise. Before any of this work can take place, however, an assessment session is the first port of call.
BartyED’s Assessment Process
To establish how best to approach each individual student, BartyED’s academic mentors first engage students in an assessment session. As already noted, BartyED’s teaching programmes are structured according to the individual learning styles and profiles of each of our students so that theoretical knowledge and practical skills can be consolidated in the most engaging ways. To gain the best possible understanding of our students and design a course of learning that best suits their needs, we begin with an assessment session. After this initial assessment, the insights gained and outcomes achieved are collated into a comprehensive, complimentary Assessment Feedback Report for transparency and accessibility.
Reach Out Today
If you think that you or your child could benefit from the experience and guidance of a BartyED academic mentor, reach out to us today. You can contact us by phone (+852 2882 1017), by email (enquiries@bartyed.com), or through our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
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An academic mentor, due to the one-to-one learning environment, is able to offer more targeted guidance and support than a classroom teacher can.
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Students of all ages and abilities can benefit from an academic mentor.
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BartyED offers support in a wide range of subjects and curricula. By contacting our office, we can help to find the support you need.
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Following BartyED’s unique assessment session, a report is composed and shared that details the best course of action.